**[Mocha's POV]**
Wondering why we have exams when it's only September. Long story short, Master Yukiya-kun explained that Hokkyokusei, despite having no tuition fees, was and still is a private school. And so we still function in this manner, with our monthly assessment test at the end of every month to closely monitor the students' progress.
I begged Master Yukiya-kun to teach me, and Aria-san and Hitomi-san caught wind of it the next day, and we formed a small group study. We conducted our study after school at a nearby cafe, aka Blue Moon Cafe, the cafe where we work.
I forgot to tell you this, but we shifted from weekday shifts to weekend shifts. Mr. Rojin proposed the idea with us in mind so that we could focus on our studies.
And so Thursday arrived for our monthly assessment test.
I closed my eyes as the paper arrived on my desk. Taking a small peek, I sighed and thought, *It's a bunch of stuff I didn't know.* Guess, one day of training, my mind is not enough for a side character like me to learn everything. But still, I got to try.
Scanning the test paper, all the way back, I answered all the familiar questions, the ones I reviewed first, in fear that I might forget them. Brain fog is kicking in. I stared at the ceiling as though I'd find the answer written there.
I shook my head, thinking it was too early to give up. For now, I read the questions properly, trying to use common sense to answer the questions.
*Alright! Multiple choice questions first.*
I read the question and answered. And answered. And answered. *This is easier than I thought* is what I told myself. Then I realize it has been the letter C for five consecutive questions now. Cold sweat dripped from my forehead, thinking *Could this be a trap?!* And so I read it again and changed some of my answers. [Later, she would find out her first answer was the correct one.]
"Five minutes remaining." The teacher announced with an evil grin on their face.
Counting my answers, I wasn't even halfway finished. With five minutes remaining, my pen started to move at light speed, not even trying to understand what I read, and just put up answers to fill up my sheets. I managed to answer them all on time.
My friends came to greet me, and I was as pale as white as I lay my head on the desk after having so much stress, expecting that I would bomb my exam.
"The test was easier than I expected." Hitomi-san came and greeted me with a smile.
"I know, right?" The other honor student, Master Yukiya-kun, agreed to her statement.
"Ahaha. Yeah." I went along, thinking, *Like hell it was!*
...
The next test began. Social Studies.
Number sixteen, identification. A question I don't know the answer to. Skip for now.
Number seventeen, a difficult question. Read the question five times, still don't understand it. *Alright. Let's just guess it for now.*
I just hope the next question will be easy.
Number eighteen arrived, a question that depends on the answer to number seventeen.
I bashed my head on the table, *Of course it was...*
I raised my head and saw someone already passing their paper.
*It has only been fifteen minutes!* I started to question all my life choices.
I turned to the next page, whispering "Please, please, please," hoping to find easier questions to answer. My eyes lit up as though my prayers had been answered. With my pen, I got through questions to questions, only shortly my ink started to fade. It stared at my pen as if it were telling me. "Boss. My job here is done..."
*Like hell it is!* That was my only pen, hot damn it.
Too shy to raise my hand, I was stuck there, left wondering what to do. Even if I raised my hand, would anyone be willing to lend me? As if my prayers had been answered, a pen landed on my desk, coming from my left side.
*Master...* Touched by my master's kindness, I'll make sure to pass this exam no matter what.
...
Next exam. Math.
*If you divide this and multiply it by that, then the percentage of this number is...*
Staring under the question with the choices A.48, B.67, C.35, or D.57 ...I got the answer number 36.
*Hm. 35 is closer to 36. So the answer must be letter C then* is what I concluded, an answer I got from my original formula.
I'll probably bomb this one. However, this is all within expectations. I already expected to fail this test, so I sacrificed math so I could focus on preparing for the other subjects.
*I swear I'm gonna make it up with the next one*
...
Next exam. English.
I used everything that I have learned to pass this subject.
[Yester. At our group study.]
"I wish there was a way to learn everything quickly..." I muttered to myself, thinking that there was no way a day of studying was enough for me to pass the exam.
On the other hand, Master Yukiya-kun, who was sitting opposite me, was sipping on his soda
"Master. Ah-" an accidental slip of the tongue, I quickly corrected myself, "I mean, Yukiya-kun. D-Do you have any tips or tricks to pass the exam without studying?" I know it was a stupid question, but I'm desperate enough to try and ask.
As if pondering for a second, Master Yukiya-kun opened his mouth and said, "I do."
"Haha, figures- ..Wait. You do?!" I exclaimed in surprise, expecting rejection of my joke.
And so the master told me what I need to do when I don't know the answer.
Tip number one: [Process of elimination.] In multiple-choice questions, remove the clearly wrong options. If two are similar, one of them is usually correct. If one option contradicts basic facts, eliminate it immediately.
Tip number two: [Pattern recognition.] If multiple questions share similar options, the repeated concept is likely important. If one option is noticeably longer or more detailed, it's often correct.
Tip number three: [Skip and return.] Don't get stuck. Sometime later, questions jog your memory.
Tip number four: [Opposite answer tricks.] If two options are direct opposites, one of them is usually correct. This makes it a fifty-fifty gamble after eliminating the others and choosing between the two.
Tip number five: [Grammar matching.] Match the option that grammatically completes the question stem.
Tip number six: [Intro-Body-Conclusion.] Even vague content looks better with a clear structure: The essay must contain background, two to three general points, and a summary or future implications. Use universally accepted statements, like "Technology plays a vital role in modern society, etc." These are rarely marked as wrong if they are relevant to the topic.
And so our two-day exams finished. Fading into ash, I sat on my chair, looking so defeated after finishing our last exam.
*I swear I'm gonna review my notes every night from now on...* [She won't]
Hitomi-san came to our spot, asking us. "How did you guys do in the exam? I thought the last part was really hard."
"Hm. I thought it was pretty easy." Aria-san confidently said, as if boasting.
Well, she did come from an elite school, so that should be expected.
"Y-Yukiya-kun. H-How did you do in the exam? I, I thought it was pretty hard, hahaha." I laughed awkwardly, finding someone to console with as I didn't see him reviewing at the cafe.
"Hm. I thought it was pretty easy this time around." He replied, sounding so confident in the way he casually said it.
*As expected of Yukiya-kun* is what the face Hitomi-san is saying, despite looking so normal.
Wait, *Does that mean I'm alone with this?* I thought to myself, concerned if I was the only one in class who failed.
"I heard those who fail have to take make-up classes." I muttered, "I really don't want to go..."
"Haha. The exam was really hard this time, especially the back part." Hitomi-san tried to relate to my struggles, as if trying to console me.
Aria-san stood up from her desk, "What back part?!" She exclaimed, pressing her hands on the table as if hearing some shocking news.
"T-The back part that contains half of the test?" Hitomi-san replied, a little shaken.
As Aria-san fell into silence, Master Yukiya-kun squinted his eyes, telling her, "You didn't see the back part. Haven't you?" He snickered, as if rubbing the salt on Aria-san's wound now that she realized it.
"Sh-Shut up! You stupid nerd!" Aria-san suddenly started throwing insults, as if desperately trying to cover up her own blunders.
"Ha?"
The two started arguing, playfully throwing insults at each other, a scene that has become our usual lately.
...Is it bad, that I felt relieved that Aria-san might join me on my make-ups?
And so our test papers arrived.
Most of my papers have low scores on them that I'm too ashamed to show to other people. But I showed my friends anyway, and they consoled me afterwards. They told me that I should just treat it on the level of a long quiz instead of major exams, as the monthly assessment tests aren't as important as our midterms and finals in determining our final grades.
Aria-san received her test scores, all of which are decently graded, except for one particular sheet. On the other hand, Master Yukiya-kun, after receiving his score, wasted no time boasting it to Aria-san, hitting her where it hurts most with her only failed subject.
Hitomi-san, as expected, received the high marks, staying worthy of her honor student reputation. However, surprisingly enough, Master Yukiya-kun got higher marks in most of his tests.
A bit concerned, Hitomi-san didn't seem to be so upset by master Yukiya-kun rivaling her for the top student spot. So I was worried for nothing.
Having this learning experience, I swear I'll listen more attentively so that I won't have to review anymore. Just like master Yukiya-kun. [She won't]